Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan is a local B-class gourmet dish from Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. It first competed in the Kinki-Chugoku-Shikoku B-1 Grand Prix in Himeji in 2011, where it won the Bronze Grand Prix (3rd place), becoming known outside the prefecture. Since then, it has won top prizes in every B-1 Grand Prix it has competed in.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan.

Characteristics of Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan

The basic style of Imabari Yakibuta Tamagomeshi is to put rice in a bowl, top with sliced roast pork and two soft-boiled fried eggs, and pour over the sweet and spicy sauce. The balance of the soft roast pork, rich egg, and sweet and spicy sauce is exquisite, making it so delicious you'll want to eat several bowls.

Each restaurant has its own unique style, and the taste varies slightly. Some restaurants chop the roast pork finely so that it can be mixed and eaten easily. Others sprinkle pepper on top for an accent. The balance between the sweet and spicy sauce and the pepper is exquisite. There are also unique variations, such as curry flavored ones and ones topped with raw egg.

When eating Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan, first try just the roast pork and rice. After that, mash one fried egg and eat it while stirring half the bowl. The yolk mixes well with the rice and roast pork, making it delicious. Eat the remaining half in the same way. It can be eaten with a spoon just like rice topped with raw egg, so it's popular with children too.

The history of Imabari roast pork and egg rice

It is said that Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan originated from a long-established Chinese restaurant called "Gobankaku." Initially, it was served as a staff meal, with rice topped with roast pork and broth. It was then topped with a fried egg, made while the roast pork was boiling, which turned out to be delicious, and so Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan was born. It was apparently designed to be easy to make and highly nutritious. It was well received by staff, who said it was "easy to eat" and "filling."

After that, "Gobankaku" closed, but the chefs who had trained there started serving it at independent restaurants, and it spread by word of mouth and became the soul food of Imabari city. The restaurants opened by those who inherited Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan are said to be "Shigematsu Hanten" and "Haku Rakuten".

Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan has always prided itself on its quick service time. Since many people in Imabari are impatient and want to eat quickly and get home quickly, some restaurants serve the dish just one minute after ordering. To serve it quickly, the recipe for Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan is very simple. Put rice in a bowl, place the roast pork on top, top with a half-boiled fried egg, and serve with a sweet and spicy sauce.

Cheap, quick, tasty and filling, Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan was popular among junior and senior high school boys at the time. Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan is a soul food born from the temperament of the people of Imabari. Another factor is that Imabari is a thriving shipbuilding town, and hotplates for cooking are easily available. Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan quickly became a popular menu item in Ehime Prefecture.

In 2006, the "Roasted Pork and Egg Rice Global Promotion Committee" was formed. Initially, it played a public relations role, dealing with the media. In 2010, it made its debut by opening a stall at the "Onomichi Teppan Grand Prix" and won the championship. It then changed its name to the "Imabari Roasted Pork and Egg Rice Global Promotion Committee" and became a town revitalization organization.

Ehime Tourism Information

When you visit Ehime, why not enjoy sightseeing in Imabari City, where you can eat Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan? This time, we will introduce three popular sightseeing spots in Imabari City.

Imabari Castle

Imabari Castle was built in the early Edo period by Todo Takatora, who was known as a master of castle construction. Since 1980, the castle tower and Tetsugomon Gate have been rebuilt, restoring the castle to its former grandeur. The castle's moat facing the Seto Inland Sea has a rare structure where seawater flows in and out, allowing you to see fish swimming. In addition, from the top floor of the castle tower, which serves as a 360-degree panoramic observation deck, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea and the Shimanami Kaido. At night, Imabari Castle is lit up, creating a fantastical sight, making it a popular date spot.

Towel Museum

The Towel Museum is a museum that combines towels and art. It is a tourist spot unique to Imabari, famous for its towel production. The stylish, modern building will catch your eye. Inside the museum, you can enjoy artworks made with towels and see the towel manufacturing process. There is also a restaurant and cafe, so you can spend the whole day at the museum, making it popular with families. In the spacious European garden of about 10,000 tsubo, you will be greeted by flowers of all seasons.

Yoshiumi Rose Park

Yoshiumi Rose Park is a park on Oshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea where you can enjoy beautiful flowers all year round. It is a famous rose spot where you can see Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in the spring and winter cherry blossoms in the fall. The park has 400 varieties of roses collected from all over the world. There is also a cafe corner and a plaza with play equipment for children, making it a tourist spot visited by many people from all over the country.

How to get to Ehime

There are various ways to access Ehime. Here are some recommended ways to access the prefecture. Travel time may vary depending on the season and weather.

If you are heading to Ehime from Tokyo, we recommend flying. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from Haneda Airport to Matsuyama Airport. If you are heading to Imabari from Matsuyama Airport, you can take the airport limousine bus and arrive in front of Imabari Station in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

It takes about 4 hours from Kyoto Station to Matsuyama Station. There are express trains from Okayama Station and Takamatsu Station to Imabari Station and Matsuyama Station. It takes about 2 hours to Imabari Station and about 2 hours and 30 minutes to Matsuyama Station.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Ehime. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture

summary

Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan is an evolved dish from a Chinese restaurant's staff meal. "Cheap, quick and delicious," Yakibuta Tamagohan is the soul food of Ehime Prefecture. It has also become a final dish after a drinking party. The taste of Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan varies depending on the restaurant, making it a local B-class gourmet dish that you can enjoy comparing different dishes.

If you visit Ehime, be sure to try Imabari Yakibuta Tamagohan.

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